Research originally aimed at improving fruit harvests has provided a potential anti-angiogenic therapy.

Oded Shoseyov and colleagues at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem were using the actin-binding protein actibind from Aspergillus niger to inhibit pollen tube formation in peaches and nectarines. Such activity decreases the number of fruits on a plant and therefore increases the size of the remaining fruit. However, the approach was not commercially viable as manual pruning remained cheaper.

Instead, the group changed tack — “In the course of our work, we started to get deeper into the science and understand how the actibind inhibits growth” said Shoseyov (http://www.israel21c.org, 15 July 2006). “We hypothesized that since the mechanism of growth is very similar — between the pollen cell and the cancer cell — that the protein would have the same effect” (http://www.reuters.com, 2 July 2006).

In cell culture and animal models actibind therapeutically inhibited angiogenesis, and, importantly, was not toxic to normal cells. “Both in vitro and in vivo, we've shown that actibind has an anticancer effect” said Shoseyov (http://www.israel21c.org, 15 July 2006). Interestingly, a human homologue of actibind, ribonuclease T2, is found in a region of chromosome 6 that is often deleted in cancer.

Asked whether he would be returning to his agricultural roots, Shoseyov said “It's definitely going to be cancer from now on” (http://www.israel21c.org, 15 July 2006).